Rotary folding mechanism.



L. A; SCHMIDT;

ROTARY FOLDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 20, 1909.

.wimsssss INVENTQR;

UNITED srarns arana @FFICE.

toms A. SCHMIDT, or NEWYORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

HOE AND 00., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPOIQATION OF NEW YORK ROTARYFOLDING MECHAbTISM.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lou s A. SCHMIDT, a citizen of theUnited States,residing at New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Folding-Mecha-nisms, fully described and represented in the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in rotary foldingmechanisms.

In the operation of modern rotary printing machines, especially thoseintended for newspaper work. where a large product and consequentrapidity of operation is required, it has been found that the speed ofthe printing mechanism, practically considered, is determinedby thespeed of the folding apparatus. In the ap lication of WilliamSpalckhaver, Serial o. 472,393,

' filed Jan. 15, 1909, there is disclosed a fold ing friction and heat.

ing mechanism comprising a cylinder having two rotary folding bladesmounted therein, these blades being carried on shafts. On these shaftsare mounted gears which mesh with the teeth of an internally toothedring, so that as the cylinder rotates, the folding blades rotate, thegearing being so proportioned as to cause each folder blade to fold offat the same point in the rotation of the cylinder. Folding mechanism ofthis character has a high efiiciency as to the number of papers producedper hour. It has been found in practice, however, when the foldingcylinder is running at the speed necessary to developits highetliciency, say three hundred revolutions or more per minute, that thecentrifugal force develhped tends to cause the folding blade carryingshafts to bind in their bearings, thus produc- Further, since the shaftscannot, of course, fit their bearings with a driving fit, there isopportunity for a slight play of the shafts with respect-to the bearingswhich interferesto some ex tent with the smoothness of operationdesirable when mechanism is to run at thehigh speeds-required. It willbe understood that in these mechanisms the folding blade carrying shaftsusually make three revolutions to one of the cylinder, so that theseshafts maygnake from nine hundred irevolu tions-a minute up,a'ccordi'ngto the; speed of; the cylinder. Further, itistohviousgihatfiSpecification cf Lettcz-s Patent.

Application filed March 20, 1909.

purpose by providing it wlt-h lhe usual cut- I yPatented Nov. 10, 1914.Serial No. 484,783.

with any Wear in the bearings, the opportunity for play is considerablyincreased.

It is the object of this invention to produce a rotary folding mechanismemploying a rotary carrier havin a'pluralityof folding blade carryingsiafts and blades in .Which means shall be provided for controlling theelfect on the folding blade shafts of the centrifugal force developed inthe revolution of the carrier, thus overcoming the tendency of theshafts to bind in their bearings and preventplay and wear.

With this and other objects not specifically referred .to in view, theinvention consists in certain constructions and in certain parts,improvements and combinations as will be hereinafter fully described andthen specifically pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 illustrates in end e vation afolder mecha- IllSlll constructed in accordance with the in vention.Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of one end of the foldermechanism illustrated in Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a rotary carrier mounted on ashaft 2, this shaft being supported in bearings 2' mounted in the frameat. The carrier will be pro vided with a plurality of sheet receivingsurfaces. In the construction shown, the carrier has two s'ucli.- sui"faces, 5, 6. Means will usually be prei ided for hoging the sheets tobe folded on the surfa es, these means, in the particular consti uctionshown, comprising pins 7 8 which nitty be mounted and operated in themanner usual in such constructions. If desired, the carriermay be formedas one of a pair of cutting cylinders, the carrier illustrated beingadapted forthis ting woods 9.

Constructions embodying the invention will include a plurality ofrotary; folding blades. In the particular construction illustrated,these blades are indica ed at '10, the M20 blades being shown asIIIO'llIll'BU on. shafts 11. While the bearings for these traits may bevariously supported, they will, in the best constructions, be mounted inthc. ;cylinder heads, the bearings illustrated beingmarked 10 12. Thefolder blade car 'ying ShaftsWilL-in constructions embodyin theinvention, .be

caused to rotate aroun' --their own; xss as the carrier rotates. 5' :Inthe best constructions embodying the imfifiiltlflll, this rotationcf'the 1:1

.- folder blade carrying shafts will be veflected by gearing. In theconstruction illustrated, each of the shafts 11 is provided at one endwith a. hub 13, this hub being made fast to the shaft in any suitablemanner, as, for instance, by means of a set screw 14. To the flange ofeach hub 13 is secured a ring gear 15, the attachment being effected inany suitable manner, as by screws 16. These gears 15 are in mesh with aninternally toothed ring gear 16 secured to the frame in any suitablemanner, as, for instance, by brackets and screws, one of which isindicated at 17 Constructions embodying the invention will include meansfor controlling the ef feet on the folding blade shafts of thecentrifugal force developed by the rotati n of the cylinder. While thesemeans may be varied, in the particular construction illustrated, thereis'secured to the end of each shaft 11 a circular bearer 18, thediameter of this bearer being equal to the pitch circle of the gear 15.These bearers, in the construction illustrated, run on a circular track,the diameter of the circle inclosed, by thistrack being enual to thepitch circle of the internal gear 16. This track may be mounted inan'yisuitablc manner. in the particular construction ilhstrated, thistrack, marked 19, is mounted in a recess in the gear-'16, the partsbeing secured together in any suitable manner, as, for instance,'byuniting them with a driving fit. The proportions ofthe gearing will besuch as to cause the folding blades to fold off at the same point, andin the particular construction illustrated, these blades tuck offbetween a pair of interg'eared folding rolls 20, these rolls beingdriven in the usual manner from a gear 21 on the cylinder.

WVith the construction as described, it will be understood that thebearers cooperating with the circular track will firmly hold the shaftsagainst the centrifugal force developed in the rotation of the cylinder1 and will overcome any tendency of the shafts to bind in theirbearings. Further, since the pitch circles of the bearers and trackcorrespond with the pitch c rcles of the gearing, 4

a rolling contact between the bearers and the track is assured, and atthe same time the shafts are securely held against-any play and wear inthe bearings is prevented, the construction thus conducing to thatsmoothness in operation which is desirable in high speed mechanism.

Changes and variations may be made in the construction by which theinvention is carried into eficct. The invention is not, therefore, to beconfined to the particular construction hereinbefore shown anddescribed. r w i What is claimed is 1. The combination with a rotarycarrier having a plurality" of sheet receiving surfaces, of a pluralityof folding blades,

shafts of the centrifugal force developed in the rapid rotation of thecarrier throughout the entire revolution of the carrier, whereby theshafts are prevented from binding in, I

their bearings.

2. The combination with a rotary carrier having a plurality of sheetreceiving surfaces, of a plurality of folding blades, continuouslyrotating shafts on which the blades are mounted, bearings for theshafts, and means for controlling the effect on the shafts of thecentrifugal force developed in the rapid rotation of the carrier,whereby the shafts are prevented from binding in their bearings.

3. The combination with a rotary carrier having a plurality of sheetreceiving surfaces, of a plurality of folding blades, shafts on which,the blades are mounted, bearings for the shafts, and means for holdingthe shafts against the centrifugal force developed by the rapid rotationof the'carrier throughout the entire revolution of the carrier.

4. The combination with a rotary carrier having a plurality of sheetreceiving surfaces, of a plurality of folding blades, continuouslyrotating shafts on which said blades are mounted, bearings for theshafts,

and means for holding the shafts againstthe centrifugal force developedby the rapid rotation of the carrier.

5. The combination with a rotary carrier having a plurality of sheetreceiving surfaces, of a plurality of folding blades, shafts on whichsaid blades are mounted, gears on the shafts, an internally toothed ringwith which said gears are in mesh, bearing for the shafts, and means forholding the shafts against centrifugal force developed by the rapidrotation of the carrier.

6. The combination .with a rotary carrier having a plurality of sheetreceiving surfaces, of a' plurality of folding blades, shafts on whichthe blades are mounted, bearings for the shafts located in the carrierhead, an internally toothed ring lo.-

cated alongside the carrier, gears on the v shafts in mesh with thering, and cooperating means carried on the shafts and ring for.

holding the shafts against the centrifugal force developed by the rapidrotation of the carrier.

7. The combination with a rotary sheet carrier having a plurality ofsheet receiving surfaces, of a plurality of folding blades,

ring, a circular bearer for each shaft the closed by said trackcorresponding to the diameter of the pitch circle of the internallytoothed ring.

8. In 'arotary golden, a folding cylinder, a rotary tucker bladejournaled therein, an internal gear beside one end of the cylinder, agear on the tucker blade shaft meshing with the internal gear,-andbearers' beside the said gears for keeping them in pitchline mes 1 9.111a rotary folder, a folding cylinder,

a rotary tucker blade journaled. therein, an,

internal gear beside one end of the cylinder, a gear on the tuckerbladeshaft meshing with said internal gear, an annular bearer beside and atthe pitch line of the annular gear, and a circular bearer beside and atthe pitch line of the tucker blade gear, engaging the annular bearer forthe purpose specified.

' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses.

LOUIS A. SCHMIDT.

Witnesses: V

F. W. H. CRANE, Gno. V. WILLIAMSON,

